Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-04-14
CHAPTER Y.
"rHE FAIREsr FLOWERS OF LIFE"

"rHE FAIREsT FLOWERS OF LIFE"
Lady Perth raised her head from the
book on which-she was engaged, and
looked across the room. 1t was pleas
ant sight that met her eyes-would
have been at least, to any one else, but
1t was not so to her. Two beautiful,
fair young heads were bent together
over book of photographs. Captain
Este was explaining, and Lady Stair
was listening. Every now and then
came a sound Of delicious laughter-a
silvery ripple that angered Lady Perth,
she hardly knew why. The morning
sun shone full and warm into the room,
the large French windows were wide
open, roses and mignonette climed near
them, and the lovely odor of white
lilies came floating in. Outside there
was a ripple of green leaves, the white
acacias were all in bloom, the birds
were singing-the very Joy and bright
ness of the summer seemed to come
floating in with the sunbeams, and to
become part ofthemselves. Lady Stair
looked as bright as the June day itself;
the sun-rays touched her golden hair
and flower-like face, her dress of pale
blue and the white roses that adorned
it, white roses that lay in the coils of
her golden hair and nestled against the
white graceful throat. Her face was
full of animation. She looked with
bright wondering eyes at Captain Este;
he was telling her some of his ex-
periences of life at Malta; and Lady
Perth, watching them, was struck by
the vivid brightness of the sweet, girl
ish face; she had never seen such an
expression on it before-Lady Stair
not that, restless as though she missed
something; but now, talking to the
bright, handsome young soldier, the
girls soul seemed all awake and shin
ing in her eyes-that wonderful, artis-
tic soul, with its capability for great
virtues and strong passions, which she
had inherited from the father who was
all genius.
Lady Perth frowned and wondered
as she looked. She could not interfere;
they were doing no harm, sitting there
in all the glory of the June sunlight,
amusing each other. Yet the beauti-
full picture was gall and NORWOOD to
Lady Perth; she could not help hear
ing all that passed, and the converse
ton of two children at play could not
have been more innocent
Every country has its own peculiar
charm" Captain Este was saying;'Italy
its music, France its brightness, and
Spain its romance"
"And England?" she interrupted.
"You will think am prejudced,"
he replied. :" but it seems to me that
England has every charm. Have you
lived in auy other country?"
"No-not lived. / have travelled
with Lord Stair, but did not know any
other life than English life,''
She was silent for a few minutes.
then she addsd:
II talk about life, but know very
little of it. The first years of my life
l thought the world all music; knew
and loved nothing else"
"And now" he asked, curiously.
snow it's mixture" she replied,
"a happy one, | hope" said Captain
Este.
And Lady Stair made no reply. She
asked her own heart If it were happy
one; except Sunbeam, what source of
happiness had she? There was her hus-
band, but she smiled bitterly to herself
as she thought of that "The History of
Music" was far dearer to him than she
was; but in this she did him wrong
Lord Stair loved his young wife most
~
fashion of his own; he had outlived the
time Of tempest, the storm and passion
IL love.
Then Lady Perth thought it time to
interrupt; she saw her opportunity.
my dear Lady STAIR" she said, 81
did not know you cared for sentimental
conversation"
us this sentimental conversation.
asked Lady Stair.
Decidedly, should immagine," was
the dry reply.
"Then l do like 1t, very much in
deed" replied Marguerite. "Do you.
Captain Este?'
Even more than you do" was the
laughing answer.
'Lady STAIR" continued the younp
soldier, twill you walk as far as Herons'
Pool? / want to show the oak-trees
there. When was quite little boy
we used to take tea in the hollow trunk
of the large one"
g should think IL much too warm
for walking, said Lady Perth, sharply.
at IL under the shade of the great
trees, the whole distance Lady Perth,
said the young soldier, carelessly.
'Ilove the sunlight" said Lady Stair.
"People aught to live out-of-doors
this beautiful weather." said Captain
Este.
III will take very good care people do
not" thought Lady Perth to herself,
She saw the pleasure these two young
and beautiful beings took in each others
society, and she resolved that they
should not spend 80 much time to-
gether.
She watched them with a darkening
race as they walked away together.
taking and laughing with all the joy
Gus happy abandon OF youth.
what a relief" cried Captain Este.
as they crossed the green bower. snow
wec can say what we choose. How
dislike that womanl have always had
such a curious idea over herr -
"Have your What ia it?, asked Lady
Stair, quite unconscious that her fate
was In some measure twined with his.
II can hardly describe IL, but / have
always had the sensation that abe